We do a lot of refinishing here at Concept Flooring. So, you can imagine we are asked a lot of questions when the topic of refinishing comes up. Rather than keep you wondering, we put together a list of the most often asked questions for refinishing hardwood floors.
Q: How long does it take to refinish hardwoods from start to finish?
A: This is one of the most often asked question and sadly the answer is, it depends… It all depends on the polyurethane that is used. Oil based takes longer, it can take anywhere form 3-4 days plus drying time. Water based often takes 2 days. This answer also depends on the size of the job. The large the job the longer it will take.
Q: Is there a lot of dust when refinishing floors?
A: The short answer is yes. The long answer is we take a few steps in helping keep dust down and off of furniture. We vacuum between each of the sandings we do and cover fixed furniture in plastic.
Q: When refinishing, can you change stain colors?
A: You can easily change the stain color. When refinishing the floors they will be sanded down to the natural wood color allowing you to choose whatever stain color will work best for you.
Q: What if we have pet stains or water damage?
A: This happens often, actually. When we come across damages, we replace that section of flooring and finish the rest of the refinishing process.
Q: Where should I store my furniture?
A: There are a couple different options you could choose. You can store furniture in other rooms, the garage, basement or we have even had some clients use pods to store their furniture.
Q: When can we walk on the floors?
A: It is recommended to stay off the floors for up to 24 hours after the final coat is applied to the floors. For the first 48 hours we recommend that you wear socks only, no shoes or bare feet.
Q: How long until pets can be on the floors?
A: Cats can be on the floors after around 48 hours. Dogs on the other had, we recommend that they stay off the floors for up to two weeks. The reason being their nails can be harsh on the new finish while setting up.
Q: How long will the new finish last?
A: Again, it depends. With regular maintenance and cleaning, the finish should last anywhere from 7 to 10 years. If there is a lot of foot traffic, then it could last a little shorter than that.
Q: What is a screen and recoat?
A: Essentially, this is means floor buffing. This is a non-invasive method where we buff the hardwood floors so an additional coat of polyurethane can be applied to the floors. This helps add an extra layer of protection and sheen.
These are the most asked questions we receive. If there is a question that you have and it is not listed here, please let us know so we can answer for you!